The book features three youngish women, each with problems. One longs for a baby, but with no success. One has two toddlers but is stressed by working full-time in a high-powered office. The third, fresh from college, wants to reform her parents' hotel but nobody else in the family will listen to her.

It was quite confusing at first as the chapters introducing these women were long, and they had nothing to do with each other, other than living in the same town. There's a lot of introspection and talking, and the catalyst for change feels a bit 'deus ex machina'.

I kept reading with mild interest in the stories, but none of the characters grabbed me. Not as good, in my opinion, as others I have read by this author.

Longer review here: https://suesbookreviews.blogspot.com/2023/11/always-and-forever-by-cathy-kelly.h... ( )

3.5 stars.
An easy quick read. I liked it. Sometimes it was a bit too much. Like I love you but I pretend to hate you kind of thing which is more something I'd like to find only in a cheap romancy book but all in all it was a good read.
This was my first book by this author and I still have 2 more books to read by her which i borrowed from the library. Must read something with a bit more substance now, then i can read another one. ;) ( )

I really enjoyed this book! I really liked each character and identified with all of them in some way. It was an easy read and a page turner, especially the last hundred or so pages, I couldnt put it down. Definitely chick lit, butI would highly recommend this book! ( )

I didn't really enjoy the first half of this book. I didn't really like the characters other than Cleo. They had so many neuroses, so concerned about what other people thought about them & their actions. It did get better when they started to do what they wanted. They all learned that they'd made mistakes dealing with people and rectified them. The ending was rushed and a bit unfinished, all of a sudden everyones happy and the books over. I don't have kids, do working mothers and stay at home mothers really feel like that about each other? Is it really so judgemental between the 2? ( )

Well written. Good character development. Irish lit. Present day problems and solutions. Reminds me of Rosamund Pilcher and Maeve Binchey ( )